METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING CROSS-POLARIZATION ISOLATION VALUE AND  1 dB GAIN COMPRESSION POINT

ABSTRACT

Exemplary embodiments include methods and systems for receiving a signal at a monitoring station, determining a transmit cross-polarization isolation value and/or 1 dB gain compression point based at least in part on the signal having one or more polarities; and outputting at about real-time the determination of the transmit cross-polarization isolation value and/or the 1 dB gain compression point to a user.

CROSS-REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/863,736, filed Sep. 28, 2007, entitled “Method and Systemfor Measuring Cross-Polarization Isolation Value and 1 dB GainCompression Point,” to Jesse P. Sigmund, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Accurate measurement of an antenna located at an earth station mayrequire accurate measurement of a maximum and/or minimum values ofcross-polarization isolation and/or a 1 dB gain compression point (P1dB). The measurement of the cross-polarization isolation value and/or 1dB gain compression point (P1 dB) may involve manually operating one ormultiple spectrum analyzers to observe cross-polarization componentsand/or co-polarization components of a transmitted signal from an earthstation under test (EUT). The cross-polarization isolation value may becalculated by manually measuring the carrier-to-noise ratio from thetransmitted cross-polarization component and co-polarization componentand performing a mathematical operation to determine thecross-polarization isolation value. The 1 dB gain compression point maybe identified by increasing the input power level of the earth stationunder test (EUT) in 1 dB steps until an increase in the power of thetransmitted signal becomes nonlinear with respect to the increase in theinput power level. However, known techniques for computing and adjustingfor cross-polarization isolation value and 1 dB gain compression pointare labor and time intensive and thus fallible. Accordingly, there is aneed for more accurate, reliable and efficient systems and techniquesfor verifying that earth station antenna are optimally aligned andcalibrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to facilitate a fuller understanding of the exemplaryembodiments of the present inventions, reference is now made to theappended drawings. These drawings should not be construed as limiting,but are intended to be exemplary only.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary system for performing a cross-polarizationisolation measurement and a 1 dB gain compression point, according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary measuring system for measuring across-polarization isolation value and a 1 dB gain compression point atan earth station under test (EUT), according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts a detailed schematic of an exemplary measuring system formeasuring a cross-polarization isolation value and a 1 dB gaincompression point at an earth station under test (EUT), according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a process of measuring across-polarization value and a 1 dB gain compression point at an earthstation under test (EUT), according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a graph of received signal for measuring across-polarization isolation value at an earth station under test (EUT),according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts a graph of received signal measuring a 1 dB gaincompression point at an earth station under test (EUT), according to anexemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment provides a measuring system and process forperforming a cross-polarization isolation measurement and/or a 1 dB gaincompression point measurement. For example, the measurement system maybe coupled to, integrated and/or otherwise associated with a monitoringearth station system. Also, the measurement system may communicate witha transmitting earth station system and/or a satellite system through anetwork, such as a wireless network and/or a wired network.Advantageously, the measurement system may provide a user with anaccurate and reliable means to calculate the cross-polarizationisolation value and/or 1 dB gain compression point. Additionally, themeasurement system may enable a user to monitor and/or discern at aboutreal-time a transmitting earth station system located remotely from themonitoring earth station system to achieve an optimal operation at thetransmitting earth station system.

The description below describes transmitting/receiving earth stationssystems (e.g., very small terminal structure (VSAT) sites),inter-facility links (IFL), antenna shelters, antennas, and othercomponents that may include one or more modules, some of which areexplicitly depicted, others of which are not. As used herein, the term“module” may be understood to refer to executable software, firmware,hardware, and/or various combinations thereof. It is noted that themodules are exemplary. The modules may be combined, integrated,separated, and/or duplicated to support various applications. Also, afunction described herein as being performed at a particular module maybe performed at one or more other modules and/or by one or more otherdevices instead of or in addition to the function performed at theparticular module. Further, the modules may be implemented acrossmultiple devices and/or other components local or remote to one another.Additionally, the modules may be moved from one device and added toanother device, and/or may be included in both devices. It is furthernoted that the software described herein may be tangibly embodied in oneor more physical media, such as, but not limited to, a compact disc(CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a hard drive, readonly memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), as well as other physicalmedia capable of storing software, and/or combinations thereof.Moreover, the figures illustrate various components (e.g., servers,computers, etc.) separately. The functions described as being performedat various components may be performed at other components, and thevarious components may be combined and/or separated. Other modificationsalso may be made.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary measuring system 100 for performing across-polarization isolation measurement and/or 1 dB gain compressionpoint measurement, according to an exemplary embodiment. As illustrated,a transmitting earth station 110 may be monitored by a monitoring earthstation 130 via a satellite system 120. The transmitting earth station110 may transmit a polarized signal including a linear polarizationsignal, a circular polarization signal, and/or an ellipticalpolarization signal to the satellite system 120 via a transmission path140. For example, the linear polarization signal may include ahorizontal polarity component and/or a vertical polarity component.Also, the circular polarization signal may include right hand circularpolarization components and/or left hand circular polarizationcomponents. For example, a co-polarization component of the transmittedsignal may be associated with the horizontal polarity and/or across-polarization component of the transmitted signal may be associatedwith the vertical polarity component. The satellite system 120 mayreceive the transmitted signal via one or more transponders associatedwith the horizontal polarity and/or the vertical polarity. The satellitesystem 120 may amplify and/or communicate the transmitted signal to themonitoring earth station 130. The monitoring earth station 130 maymeasure the cross-polarization isolation value and/or 1 dB gaincompression point of the transmitting earth station 110. Also forexample, the monitoring earth station 130 may directly receive thetransmitted signal from the transmitting earth station 110 via atransmission path 160 to determine the cross-polarization isolationvalue and/or the 1 dB gain compression point.

The transmitting earth station 110 may be an earth satellite station, ateleport, a communication facility and/or other transmitting stationsfor transmitting a signal. The transmitting earth station 110 mayinclude an outdoor unit (ODU) and an indoor unit (IDU) connected to eachother via an inter-facility link (IFL). The outdoor unit (ODU) mayinclude a microwave radio transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna,feedhorn, low-noise block (LNB), block-up converter (BUC), transmitreject filter, transceiver, power amplifier, polarizer, transmit type Ntransition, transponder and/or other devices located associated with theoutdoor unit (ODU). The indoor unit (IDU) may include modems and/orelectronic interface to enable a connection to a network (e.g.,Internet). The inter-facility network (IFL) may be a wireless network, awired network or any combination of wireless network and wired network.

The satellite system 120 may include one or more of the following: aspace station, a communications satellite, astronomical satellite,biosatellite, miniaturized satellites, navigational satellites,reconnaissance satellites, earth observation satellites, solar powersatellites, space stations, weather satellites, anti-satellite weaponsand/or other satellites for relaying and/or transmitting a signal.

The transmission paths 140, 150 and/or 160 may be a wireless network, awired network or any combination of wireless network and wired network.For example, transmission paths 140, 150 and/or 160 may include, withoutlimitation, satellite network operating in Band C, Band Ku and/or BandKa, wireless LAN, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), PersonalCommunication Service (PCS), Personal Area Network (PAN), D-AMPS, Wi-Fi,Fixed Wireless Data, satellite network, IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.15.1,802.11n and 802.11g and/or any other wireless network for transmitting asignal. In addition, the transmission paths 140, 150 and/or 160 mayinclude, without limitation, telephone line, fiber optics, IEEE Ethernet802.3, wide area network (WAN), local area network (LAN), global networksuch as the Internet. Also, transmission paths 140, 150 and/or 160 mayenable, a wireless communication network, a cellular network, anIntranet, or the like, or any combination thereof. The transmissionpaths 140, 150 and/or 160 may further include one, or any number of theexemplary types of networks mentioned above operating as a stand-alonenetwork or in cooperation with each other.

The monitoring earth station 130 may be an earth satellite station, ateleport, a communication facility and/or other stations locatedremotely from the transmitting earth station 110. The monitoring earthstation 130 may include an outdoor unit (ODU) and an indoor unit (IDU)connected to each other via an inter-facility link (IFL). The outdoorunit (ODU) may include a microwave radio transmitting antenna, areceiving antenna, feedhorn, low-noise block (LNB), block-up converter(BUC), transmit reject filter, transceiver, power amplifier, polarizer,transmit type N transition and/or other devices associated with theoutdoor unit (ODU). The indoor unit (IDU) may include electronicinterface to enable a connection to a network (e.g., Internet). Theinter-facility network (IFL) may be a wireless network, a wired networkor any combination of wireless network and wired network. Also, themonitoring earth station 130 may include a processing unit to determinethe cross-polarization isolation value and/or the 1 dB gain compressionpoint of the transmitting earth station 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary monitoring earth station 130 formonitoring, analyzing, and/or determining a cross-polarization isolationvalue and/or 1 dB gain compression point, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment. As discussed above, the monitoring earth system130 may be located remotely from the transmitting earth station 110.Also, the monitoring earth station 130 may include a computer readablemedia having software code to perform the cross-polarization isolationvalue measurement and/or the 1 dB gain compression point measurement.The monitoring earth system 130 may include an antenna module 210, anantenna shelter module 220, an inter-facility link (IFL) module 230 andan earth station module 240. The antenna module 210 may receive atransmitted signal from the satellite system 120 and/or the transmittingearth station 110. The antenna module 210 may transfer the transmittedsignal to the antenna shelter module 220. The antenna shelter module 220may detect and/or display various information associated with thetransmitted signal. The antenna shelter 220 may transfer the informationassociated with the transmitted signal to the earth station module 240via the inter-facility link (IFL) module 230. The earth station module240 may analyze and/or determine the cross-polarization isolation valueand/or 1 dB gain compression point based at least in part on theinformation associated with the transmitted signal.

The antenna module 210 may include a microwave radio transmittingantenna, a receiving antenna, an isotropic radiator antenna, a dipoleantenna, a Yagi-Uda antenna, a loop antenna, a magnetic loop antenna, alarge loop antenna, a small loop antenna, an electrically short antenna,a fractal antenna, a parabolic antenna, a micro-strip antenna, a quadantenna, a random wire antenna, a beverage antenna, a helical antenna, abroadside helical antenna, a phased ray antenna, a synthetic apertureantenna, a trailing wire antenna, a dielectric resonator antenna, afeedhorn antenna and/or other antennas for transmitting and and/orreceiving a signal

The antenna shelter module 220 may include signal dividers, analogspectrum analyzers, digital spectrum analyzers, signal converters,switches, DSL modems, ADSL modem, cable modems, broadband modems, doubleway satellite modem, power-line modems, ISDN modems, Wi-Fi modems, WiBromodems, WiMax modems, UMTS-TDD modems, HSPA modems, EV-DO modems,satellite modems and/or other devices for detecting and/or displaying asignal.

The inter-facility link (IFL) module 230 may be a wireless network, awired network or any combination of wireless network and wired network.For example, inter-facility link (IFL) module 230 may include, withoutlimitation, wireless LAN, Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM),Personal Communication Service (PCS), Personal Area Network (PAN),D-AMPS, Wi-Fi, Fixed Wireless Data, satellite network, IEEE 802.11a,802.11b, 802.15.1, 802.1n and 802.11g and/or any other communicationnetwork for transmitting a signal. In addition, inter-facility link(IFL) module 230 may include, without limitation, co-axial cable,telephone line, fiber optics, IEEE Ethernet 802.3, wide area network(WAN), local area network (LAN), global network such as the Internet.Also, inter-facility link (IFL) module 230 may enable, a wirelesscommunication network, a cellular network, an Intranet, or the like, orany combination thereof. The inter-facility link (IFL) module 230 mayfurther include one, or any number of the exemplary types of networksmentioned above operating as a stand-alone network or in cooperationwith each other.

The earth station module 240 may include DSL modems, ADSL modern, cablemodems, broadband modems, double way satellite modern, power-linemodems, ISDN modems, Wi-Fi modems, WiBro modems, WiMax modems, UMTS-TDDmodems, HSPA modems, EV-DO modems, satellite modems, a local areanetwork (LAN), an wide area network (WAN), computer devices,communication devices including, for example, a personal computer (PC),a workstation, a mobile device, a handheld PC, a personal digitalassistant (PDA) and/or other devices for receiving and/or processing asignal.

Referring to FIG. 3, a detailed schematic of the monitoring earthstation 130 for monitoring, analyzing, and/or determining across-polarization isolation value and/or 1 dB gain compression point,in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a more detailedview of the monitoring earth station 130 illustrated in FIG. 2. Asshown, the antenna module 210 may include an antenna 301 and/or othertransmitting and/or receiving devices. The antenna 301 may receive atransmitted signal from the transmitting earth station 110 via thesatellite system 120. Also, the antenna 301 may receive the transmittedsignal directly from the transmitting earth station 110. The transmittedsignal may include a horizontal polarity component and/or a verticalpolarity component. The antenna 301 may include one or more oftransponders associated with the horizontal polarity component and/orthe vertical polarity component of the transmitted signal. The one ormore transponders associated with the horizontal polarity component ofthe transmitted signal may be staggered in the frequency spectrum fromthe plurality of transponders associated with the vertical polaritycomponent of the transmitted signal. A user may select one or moretransponders to perform the cross-polarization isolation valuemeasurement and/or the 1 dB gain compression point measurement.

The antenna module 210 may provide the transmitted signal havinghorizontal polarity components and/or vertical polarity components tothe antenna shelter module 220. The antenna shelter module 220 mayinclude two n-way signal dividers 302-1 and 302-2 for receiving thetransmitted signal from the antenna module 210. The n-way signaldividers 302-1 and 302-2 may replicate the transmitted signal ton-channels in accordance with the number of spectrum analyzers 303. Then-way signal dividers 302-1 and 302-2 may couple the transmitted signalto one or more spectrum analyzers 303. The number of channels for then-way signal dividers 302-1 and 302-2 may be associated with the numberof transponders associated with the satellite system 120 and/or otherdesign specifications. For example, the n-way signal dividers (broadbanddivider so you can have more than one spectrum analyzer) 302-1 and 302-2of the received signal into 4 channels each coupled to the one or morespectrum analyzer 303.

The one or more spectrum analyzers 303 may detect the vertical polaritycomponent and/or the horizontal polarity component of the transmittedsignal. The one or more spectrum analyzers 303 may also determineinformation associated with the vertical polarity component and/or thehorizontal polarity component of the transmitted signal. For example,the one or more spectrum analyzers 303 may be divided into pairs ofspectrum analyzers 303 to determine information associated with thevertical polarity component and the horizontal polarity component of thetransmitted signal. A first pair of spectrum analyzers 303 may includespectrum analyzers 303-1 and 303-2, a second pair of spectrum analyzers303 may include spectrum analyzers 303-3 and 303-4, a third pair ofspectrum analyzers 303 may include spectrum analyzers 303-5 and 303-6and a fourth pair of spectrum analyzers 303 may include spectrumanalyzers 303-7 and 303-8. The information associated the verticalpolarity component and/or the horizontal component of the transmittedsignal may include frequency, amplitude and/or phase. One or moresettings associated with the one or more spectrum analyzer 303 may beadjusted to view the transmitted signal. One or more settings associatedwith the one or more spectrum analyzers 303 may include centerfrequency, reference level, span, resolution bandwidth, video bandwidth,and/or other settings to view the transmitted signal. reference level,span, resolution bandwidth, video bandwidth, A user may select a pair ofspectrum analyzers 303 to perform the cross-polarization isolation valuemeasurement and/or the 1 dB gain compression point measurement. Also,the first pair of spectrum analyzers 303 may be set as a default pair ofspectrum analyzers 303. Furthermore, a predetermined time of inactivityfrom a user, the spectrum analyzers 303 may terminate a communicationwith the user.

Signal dividers 304-1, 304-2, 304-3 and 304-4 may be associated with apair of the spectrum analyzers 303. For example, a spectrum analyzer 303from a pair of spectrum analyzer 303 may output a reference signal. Theoutput reference signal from the spectrum analyzer 303 may exhibit apredetermined frequency, e.g., 10 MHz. The output reference signal fromthe spectrum analyzer 303 may be inputted into the signal divider 304.The signal divider 304 may divide the output reference signal into twooutput reference signals. Each of the output reference signals from thesignal dividers 304 may be inputted into the pair of spectrum analyzer303. The output reference signals from the signal dividers 304 maysynchronize the pair of spectrum analyzer 303. By synchronizing the pairof spectrum analyzers 303, the received co-polarization component andthe received cross-polarization may be synchronized, e.g., peak at thesame frequency. Also, the reference signal may be provided by anexternal source to the signal dividers 304-1, 304-2, 304-3 and 304-4 inorder to synchronize the one or more spectrum analyzer 303.

The outputs of each spectrum analyzers 303 may be inputted into a signalconverter 305. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, output of each pairof spectrum analyzers 303 may be inputted into four signal converters305-1, 305-2, 305-3 and 305-4, respectively. For example, the signalconverter 305 may be a serial-Ethernet converter. The signal converter305 may convert a serial input signal from the spectrum analyzer 303 andoutput an Ethernet signal.

The output signal from the signal converter 305 may be inputted into aswitch 306. As shown, output from each of the four signal converters 305may be inputted into the switch 306. A user may use the switch 306 toselect to view information associated with the transmitted signal fromone or more channels. The switch 306 may include an Ethernet switch, asemiconductor switch, an actuator, a changeover switch, knife switch, asingle pole, single throw (SPST), single pole, double throw (SPDT), asingle pole changeover (SPCO), a double pole, single throw (DPST),double pole, double throw (DPDT), double pole changeover (DPCO), a 4-wayswitch, a push-to-make switch, a push-to-break switch, a mercury switch,a centrifugal switch, a DIP switch, hall-effect switch, inertial switch,a membrane switch, a toggle switch, a transfer switch, a mindy switch,an intermediate switch, a multi-way switch and/or other switchingdevices to switch between the one or more channels.

The switch 306 may output a signal from the channel selected by a userto a first modem 307. The first modem 307 may include DSL modems, ADSLmodems, cable modems, broadband modems, double way satellite modems,power-line modems, ISDN moderns, Wi-Fi modems, WiBro modems, WiMaxmodems, UMTS-TDD modems, HSPA moderns, EV-DO moderns, satellite modemsand/or other devices for modulating and/or demodulating a signal.

The first modern 307 may transfer the output signal to a second modem308 via the inter-facility link (IFL) 230. Also, the second modern 308may include DSL modems, ADSL modem, cable moderns, broadband modems,double way satellite modern, power-line modems, ISDN modems, Wi-Fimodems, WiBro modems, WiMax moderns, UMTS-TDD moderns, HSPA modems,EV-DO modems, satellite modems and/or other devices for modulatingand/or demodulating a signal.

The second modem 308 may transfer the output signal to a local areanetwork (LAN) 310. The local area network (LAN) 310 may be a computernetwork and/or other communication networks. A user may operate a userinterface 311 (e.g., computer) to access the signal transferred via thelocal area network (LAN) 310. The user interface 311 may include acomputer readable media having software code to perform at aboutreal-time the cross-polarization isolation value measurement and/or the1 dB gain compression point measurement. The software code may includeplatform software, application software, user-written software and/orother software languages to enable the cross-polarization isolationvalue measurement and/or the 1 dB gain compression point measurement atabout real-time.

Also, a wide area network (WAN) 309 may be in communication with thelocal area network (LAN) 310. A user located remotely from the localarea network (LAN) 310 may obtain the output signal from the local areanetwork (LAN) 310 via the wide area network (WAN) 309.

The wide area network (WAN) 309 and/or the local area network (LAN) 310may include, without limitation, wireless LAN, Global System for MobileCommunication (GSM), Personal Communication Service (PCS), Personal AreaNetwork (PAN), D-AMPS, Wi-Fi, Fixed Wireless Data, satellite network,IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.15.1, 802.11n and 802.11g and/or any othercommunication network for transmitting a signal. In addition, the widearea network (WAN) 309 and/or the local area network (LAN) 310 mayinclude, without limitation, co-axial cable, telephone line, fiberoptics, IEEE Ethernet 802.3, global network such as the Internet. Also,the wide area network (WAN) 309 and/or the local area network (LAN) 310may enable, a wireless communication network, a cellular network, anIntranet, or the like, or any combination thereof. The wide area network(WAN) 309 and/or local area network (LAN) 310 may further include one,or any number of the exemplary types of networks mentioned aboveoperating as a stand-alone network or in cooperation with each other.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method for performing across-polarization isolation measurement and/or 1 dB gain compressionpoint of a transmitting earth station 110, in accordance with exemplaryembodiments. This exemplary method 400 is provided by way of example, asthere are a variety of ways to carry out the method. The method 400shown in FIG. 4 can be executed or otherwise performed by one or acombination of various systems. The method 400 is described below may becarried out by system 100 shown in FIGS. 1-3 by way of example, andvarious elements of the system 100 are referenced in explaining theexample method of FIG. 4. Each block shown in FIG. 4 represents one ormore processes, methods or subroutines carried in exemplary method 400.Referring to FIG. 4, exemplary method 400 may begin at block 402.

At block 402, a user may initiate a measurement of a cross-polarizationisolation value and/or a 1 dB compression point of a transmitting earthstation 110. For example, a user at a monitoring earth station 130 mayinitiate a cross-polarization isolation measurement by selecting a pairof spectrum analyzer 303 and/or a test channel from a list of testchannels via a user interface 311. The list of test channels may bepredetermined by the monitoring earth station 130 and/or determined bythe user. The user may also select one or more transponders associatedwith a satellite system 120 based at least in part on the transmittingfrequency selected by the user to determine the cross-polarizationisolation value and/or the 1 dB gain compression point. The selectedspectrum analyzer 303 pair may be automatically configured to measure ata default channel. The default channel may be predetermined by the userand/or may be the first channel in the channel list. Also, the user mayselect a new test channel and/or frequency from the test channel list.The spectrum analyzers 303 may be automatically configured to performthe measurement at the newly selected test channel. The user may alsoadjust setting on the spectrum analyzers 303. For example, the user mayadjust a frequency control, a reference level control, a span control, aresolution bandwidth control, a video bandwidth control, an attenuationcontrol associated and/or other settings associated with the spectrumanalyzer 303. After initiating a measurement of a cross-polarizationisolation value and/or 1 dB compression point, the method 400 mayproceed to block 404.

At block 404, a field dispatcher may peak and/or optimize thetransmission/reception of an antenna located at the transmitting earthstation 110. For example, the spectrum analyzers 303 may not beconfigured to proper settings for satisfactorily peak and/or optimizethe transmission/reception of the antenna. The user at the monitoringearth station 130 may utilize adjustment controls associated with thespectrum analyzer 303 to optimize the spectrum analyzer settings. Thefield dispatcher may configure the transmitting power of thetransmitting earth station 110 to a predetermined value. For example,the user at the transmitting earth station 110 may configure thetransmitting power having a predetermined transmitted co-polarizationcarrier to noise (C/N) value with a predetermined resolution bandwidthmay be received by the spectrum analyzers 303 at the monitoring earthstation 130. Finding the maximum signal level may be accomplished by aniterative process of moving the antenna in the azimuth axis and theelevation axis, and alternating between the axes each time a new peakvalue may be found.

Also at block 404, to achieve a maximum level, the field dispatcher mayadjust the antenna located at the transmitting earth station 110 in theazimuth (east or west) axis in small increments and monitor the signallevel on the spectrum analyzer 303 located at the monitoring earthstation 130. The field dispatcher may continue to adjust the antennauntil the signal level starts to decrease. Thereafter, the fielddispatcher may begin moving the antenna in the opposite direction, untilthe signal level may begin to increase again. Once the signal level maybe maximized, the field dispatcher may stop adjusting the antenna andtighten the azimuth screws. Thereafter, the field dispatcher may beginadjusting the antenna in the elevation (up or down) axis. Also, thefield dispatcher may adjust the antenna in the elevation axis until themaximum signal may be achieved. This process of adjusting the antenna inthe azimuth axis and/or the elevation axis may be repeated, startingagain with the azimuth axis, and/or the elevation axis until the signalstrength displayed on the spectrum analyzer 303 may be maximized. Afterpeak the antenna located at the transmitting earth station 110, themethod 400 may proceed to block 406.

At block 406, after the antenna at the transmitting earth station 110 ispeaked, a cross-polarization isolation value may be measured. Forexample, the spectrum analyzer 303 settings may not be satisfactory formeasuring the cross polarization isolation value, the user at themonitoring earth station 130 may configure the spectrum analyzer 303 tooptimize the spectrum analyzer 303 settings.

Also at block 406, the cross polarization isolation value may beautomatically calculated by the monitoring earth station 130 anddisplayed on the user interface 311, e.g., computer. As mentioned above,the user may select one or more transponders associated with thesatellite system 120 and a pair of spectrum analyzers 303. The selectedone or more transponders associated with the satellite system 120 mayreceive a transmitted signal from the transmitting earth station 110.The transmitted signal may be provided to the selected pair of spectrumanalyzers 303 via a signal divider 302. The spectrum analyzer 303 maydetermine a co-polarization component and/or the cross-polarizationcomponent associated with the transmitted signal from the transmittingearth station 110. The cross-polarization isolation value may bedetermined by taking a ratio of the co-polarization component and thecross-polarization component of the transmitted signal from thetransmitting earth station 110. For example, a cross-polarizationisolation value of 30 dB or better may be necessary to be compliant withthe satellite requirements. Because, the cross-polarization component ofthe transmitted signal may be small, therefore the transmitcross-polarization component may not display on the spectrum analyzer303. The field dispatcher may increase the transmitting power at thetransmitting earth station 110 until the cross polarization componentmay be seen on the spectrum analyzer 303. When the cross-polarizationcomponent may not be detected, and the co-polarization carrier to noisemay be greater than a predetermined value, therefore thecross-polarization isolation value may be adequate.

For example, the measured cross-polarization isolation value may be lessthan a predetermined value, the field dispatcher may adjust a polarizerassociated with the antenna located at the transmitting earth station110 until the predetermined cross-polarization isolation value or bettermay be achieved. Also, the predetermined cross-polarization isolationvalue or better may not be achieved, the user may verify that theantenna at the antenna at the transmitting earth station 110 may beproperly peaked. After measuring the cross-polarization isolation valueat block 403, the method 400 may proceed to block 408.

At block 408, the 1 dB compression point may be measured. The user atthe monitoring earth station 130 may determine that the antenna at thetransmitting earth station 110 may be properly peaked as described inblock 402 and/or the cross-polarization isolation value may be adequateas described in block 403. The 1 dB compression point may be measured.The field dispatcher may decrease the transmit power of the transmittingearth station 110 so that a predetermined co-polarization carrier tonoise (C/N) value may be shown on the spectrum analyzer 303.

Also, at block 408, a user may select 1 dB gain compression point fromthe monitoring earth system 130 to start the 1 dB compression pointtest. The monitoring earth system 130 may prompt the user to enter thesatellite modems transmit power level setting. The field dispatcher maycommunicate the current transmit power setting from the modem to theuser at the monitoring earth station 130 and may enter this value intothe monitoring earth station 130.

As mentioned above, the user may select one or more transpondersassociated with the satellite system 120 and a pair of spectrumanalyzers 303. The selected one or more transponders associated with thesatellite system 120 may receive a transmitted signal from thetransmitting earth station 110. The transmitted signal may be providedto the selected pair of spectrum analyzers 303 via a signal divider 302.The spectrum analyzers 303 may measure the transmitted signal level fromthe transmitting earth station 110 and prompt the user located at themonitoring earth station 130 to instruct the field dispatcher at thetransmitting earth station 110 to increase the transmitting power by 1dB. This process may be repeated until the monitoring earth station 130detected sufficient data to determine the 1 dB compression point. Themonitoring earth station 130 may reach the 1 dB gain compression pointtoo fast. Also, the monitoring earth system 130 may determine that theremay be a lack of sufficient information to accurately determine the 1 dBgain compression point. The monitoring earth system 130 may prompt theuser to instruct the field dispatcher at the transmitting earth station110 to decrease the transmit power level, e.g., by 12 dB. The monitoringearth system 130 may again begin to instruct the field dispatcher toincrease the transmitting power of the transmitting earth station 110 by1 dB, until the 1 dB compression point may be reached.

Also at block 408, the process of prompting the user located at themonitoring earth station 130 to instruct the field dispatcher at thetransmitting earth station 110 to increase the transmitting power by 1dB may be automated with the user and field dispatcher interaction. Forexample, the spectrum analyzers 303 may measure the transmitted signallevel from the transmitting earth station 110. The monitoring earthstation 130 may transmit an instruction signal (e.g., IP multicastsignal) based at least in part on the transmitted signal levelmeasurement by the spectrum analyzers 303 to the transmitting earthstation 110 via the satellite system 120. The instruction signaltransmitted by the monitoring earth station 130 may instruct thetransmitting earth station 110 to increase the transmitting power by 1dB. Also, the instruction signal may be transmitted to a control device(e.g., a computer and/or a processor) that may be integrated and/orassociated with the transmitting earth station 110. The control devicemay instruct the transmitting earth station 110 to increase thetransmitting power by 1 dB. This process may be repeated until themonitoring earth station 130 detected sufficient data to determine the 1dB compression point. After measuring the 1 dB compression point atblock 408, the method 400 may proceed to block 410.

At block 410, the determination of the cross-polarization isolationvalue and/or the 1 dB gain compression point may be outputted fordisplay to the user and/or print out the determination on a report. Forexample, a user may select to print a report of the cross-polarizationisolation value and/or the 1 dB gain compression point. The monitoringearth station 130 may prompt the user to manually enter transmissionstation information, weather conditions and/or a place to provideadditional comments regarding the test. The monitoring earth system 130may also automatically enter transmission station information and/orweather conditions. Further, the report data may be automatically sentto a centralized database and/or saved e.g., in the users local reporthistory.

Also at block 410, the result of cross-polarization isolation valuemeasurement and/or 1 dB gain compression point measurement may bedisplayed to a user at the earth monitoring station 130 via a userinterface 311. The result of cross-polarization isolation valuemeasurement and/or 1 dB gain compression point measurement may beoutputted to the user interface 311 in at about real-time and/or nearreal-time. For example, the result of cross-polarization isolation valuemeasurement and/or 1 dB gain compression point measurement may beprovided to the user interface 311 at about real-time without delay.Also, the result of cross-polarization isolation value measurementand/or 1 dB gain compression point measurement may be outputted to theuser interface 311 at predetermined or user-selected intervals. Forexample, the user may set the update interval to a small value (e.g.,50-250 milliseconds) to achieve a near real-time monitoring of thetransmitting earth station 110.

Further at block 410, the result of cross-polarization isolation valuemeasurement and/or 1 dB gain compression point measurement may beprovided to the field dispatcher at the transmitting earth station 110via a wide area network 309. For example, the wide area network 309 maybe a satellite network. The result of cross-polarization isolation valuemeasurement and/or 1 dB gain compression point measurement may betransmitted (e.g., IP multicast transmission) by the monitoring earthstation 130 to the field dispatcher at the transmitting earth station110 via a satellite system 120. Also, the result of cross-polarizationisolation value measurement and/or 1 dB gain compression pointmeasurement may be transmitted by the monitoring earth station 130directly to the field dispatcher at the transmitting earth station 110.Therefore, the field dispatcher at the transmitting earth station 110may obtain the result of cross-polarization isolation value measurementand/or 1 dB gain compression point measurement at about real-time ornear real-time as discussed above.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plot of co-polarization component andcross-polarization components of the transmitted signal from thetransmitting earth station 110, in accordance with the embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The receive co-polarization component may beassociated with the transmitting signal from the transmitting earthstation 110 taking a desired transmission path of 140 and 150 thru thesatellite system 120 and/or a transmission path of 160. The receivecross-polarization signal shown in the figure may be due to anon-perfect isolation in a feed system of an antenna 301 located at amonitoring earth station 130. The received co-polarization signal andthe received cross-polarization signal may be at the same frequency, dueto the synchronizing reference signal fed to a pair of spectrumanalyzers 303. By synchronizing the received co-polarization signal andthe received cross-polarization signal at the same frequency, themonitoring system may easily eliminate the received cross-polarizationsignal to determine the transmit cross-polarization isolation value.Also, the transmitted cross-polarization signal may be shown in FIG. 5.The transmitted cross-polarization may be caused by non-perfectisolation of a feed system of an antenna located at a transmitting earthstation 110. The transmitted cross-polarization signal may be offset infrequency than the receive co-polarization and/or cross-polarizationsignals. The offset in frequency may be caused by the transmittedcross-polarization signal may take a path thru a different transponderon the satellite system 120 and/or as a result may have gone thru adifferent frequency conversion process. The monitoring earth station 130may measure the ratio of the amplitude of the received co-polarizationand the amplitude of the transmitted cross-polarization signal todetermine the cross-polarization isolation value.

FIG. 6 illustrates a plot of 1 dB gain compression point, in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment. The 1 dB gain compression point may bedetermined by measuring received gain at a monitoring earth station 130at different input power level settings at a transmitting earth station110. For example, for every 1 dB increase in input power at thetransmitting earth station 110, a corresponding 1 dB increase in outputpower may be detected at the monitoring earth station 130, this regionof the plot may be considered a “linear” region. As the output powerlimit of the transmission system may be reached, the gain detected atthe monitoring earth station 130 may start to compress and the plot maybecome non-linear. Therefore, the 1 dB gain compression point may bereached when the gain is 1 dB less than it was in the linear region.

In the preceding specification, various preferred embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however,be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto,and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing fromthe broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims thatfollow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded inan illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

1. A method, comprising: receiving a signal at a monitoring station;determining a 1 dB gain compression point based at least in part on thesignal; and updating and outputting at about real-time the determinationof the 1 dB gain compression point for display to a user.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted by a transmission station.3. The method of claim 2, wherein the monitoring station and thetransmission station are disposed at two distinct locations.
 4. Themethod of claim 2, further comprising optimizing transmission/receptionof an antenna located at the transmission station.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein optimizing transmission/reception of an antenna locatedat the transmission station comprises adjusting an azimuth axis of theantenna located at the transmission station.
 6. The method of claim 4,wherein optimizing transmission/reception of an antenna located at thetransmission station comprises adjusting an elevation axis of theantenna located at the transmission station.
 7. The method of claim 1,wherein determining the 1 dB gain compression point comprises increasingan input power associated with the transmission station.
 8. The methodof claim 7, wherein the input power associated with the transmissionstation is increased by 1 dB.
 9. The method of claim 7, whereindetermining the 1 dB gain compression point further comprises increasingthe input power associated with the transmission station until anon-linear output is reached.
 10. A non-transitory computer readablemedia comprising code to perform the acts of the method of claim
 1. 11.A system, comprising: an antenna configured to receive a signal at amonitoring station; one or more spectrum analyzers configured to detectthe signal; a processing module comprising at least one computerprocessor configured to determine a 1 dB gain compression point based atleast in part on the signal; and a user interface configured to updateand output the determination of the 1 dB gain compression point fordisplay to a user.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or morespectrum analyzers comprise one or more pairs of spectrum analyzers. 13.The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more pairs of spectrumanalyzers are synchronized with a reference signal.
 14. The system ofclaim 11, further comprising one or more first signal dividersconfigured to divide a reference signal to the one or more spectrumanalyzers.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more firstsignal dividers are further configured to divide the reference signalfrom at least one of the one or more spectrum analyzers and provide thedivided reference signal to the one or more spectrum analyzers.
 16. Thesystem of claim 11, further comprises one or more second signal dividersconfigured to replicate an output signal of the antenna and input thereplicated output signal of the antenna to the one or more spectrumanalyzers.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more secondsignal dividers comprise a number of channels based at least in part ona number of the one or more spectrum analyzers.
 18. The system of claim11, further comprising one or more signal converters configured toconvert a serial input signal to an Ethernet output signal.
 19. Thesystem of claim 18, further comprising a switch configured to receivethe Ethernet output signal from the one or more signal converters. 20.The system of claim 11, wherein the antenna comprises one or morepolarizers.